Box and the like



Nov. l2, 1940. w. J. BEASLEY :TAL 2,221,504

BOX AND THE LIKE Filed June 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l ialeroseph Eeasertf "Tohn WalJrer Summers INVENTOES NOV. l2, 1940. w, L BEASLEY ETAL 2,221,504

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Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED vSTATES 2,221,504 Box AND THE LIKE Walter Joseph Beasley, Kew, Victoria, and John Walter Summers, Bentleigh, Victoria, Australia; said Summers assignor to said Beasley Application June 8,` 1938, Serial No. 212,434 In Australia November 17, 1937 3 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes, cases, crates trunks and like containers (all herein` vcalled boxes), of the type in which the lid is slidable relatively to the body in such manner that it may be arranged to cover the interior or be moved longitudinally and swung pivotally into an upright position outwardly of one end. l

The primary obj-ect of this invention is to provide means for connecting the lidy to an end in a box of the type referred to, in such manner that during the sliding movement of the lid, desirable flexibility and freedom from jammingis ensured and so that when the lid is arranged to cover the box interior it rests flatly on the upper edges of the sides and ends, without loss of space.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for fastening the said slidable lid when it is arranged to cover the box interior.

A further object of this invention is to provide a box of the type referred to which is collapsible and in which the slidable lid is arranged to engage other parts of the box, in both the erected and collapsed positions. Y

A still further object of this inventionis t provide a collapsible box ofthe type referred to which is stronger, more durable, and lgenerally more suitable for commercial use than known boxes of similar type, in which, when the box is erected, there are no parts which project into the boxinterior to obstruct the packing of the box or reduce itscapacity and in which the sides and ends are readily foldable to the collapsed position. v

According to this invention a box of the type referred to includes any suitable number of strips which extend along the inside of the box lid for a distancethat is not less than the height of a box end, and means to slidably retain each said strip relatively to a box end, the said means comprising a member the medial part of which is offset relativelyto each of its ends and` bearings to pivotally support each end of' `the said member relatively to a box end, the arrangement being such that the lid may be slid longitudinally of the ,box and be swung into an upright position or be arranged to lie flatly on the upper edges of the ends and sides to close the box.

Means to hold and seal the said slidable lid in its closed position include a flexible strap that is connected to that end of the box lid which is not retained by the means to engage the beforementionred strips, a loop on the adjacent end of the box through which said strap may be passed, an aperture in the part of the said strap which projects beyond the said loop, a doubled metal strip that is threaded through the said aperture,` and another loop to receive the limbs of the said strip in such mannerthat the projecting ends may be united by a seal.

The box lid is flanged and the flanges at the opposite ends of the lid each carry one or more inwardly extending projections that are of sufcient length to engage complementary apertures in the box ends. When the box is collapsible the said projections also engageapertures in a flange on the box base when the parts are in collapsed position.

When the box is collapsible, each foldable end has a flange at each side that overlaps a side of the box when the parts are erected and the lower end of each said flange is pivotally connected to a flange on the box base in such manner that when the ends are folded, the flanges on the end to which the lid is connected are outside the sides of the base flange, and the Aflanges on the other end are inside the sides of the said base flange.

, But in order that this invention may be more readily understood a practical embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible box in erected position except that a foldable side is set obliquely and the slidable lid is in an upright position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the box shown in Fig. l, with the parts fully and with the lid closed and sealed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view vshowing the box illustrated in Figs. l and 2,* with the parts almost collapsed.

Fig, 4 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the box illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, completely collapsed.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of part of an end of the box sho-wing guide means for a strip that is xed to the slidable lid. i

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation showing means for connecting aside of the box to an end thereof, when the parts are erected.

Fig. 'l is a detail perspective View showing the hinge for connecting a foldable side of the box to the base thereof.

Fig. 8 `is a detail sectional view showing means for holding the slidable lid of the box relatively to an end thereof, when erected, or relatively to the base, when collapsed.

Fig. 9 is a detail front elevation showing means for fastening the slidable lid of the box.

Fig. 10 is a vertical central section of the lower part of Fig. 9.

I|` is the box base, I2 are foldable sides, I3 are foldable ends, and i4 is a slidable lid. The base Il has an upstanding peripheral flange lle,

erected each end I3 has a flange I3a at each side and the top I4 has a peripheral flange I4a. The lower end of Veach ange 'I3a is `extended to form (an ear |3b which is pivotally connected to the base flange Ila. Each flange I3 extends over the adjacent part of a side I2 when the sides I2 and the ends |3 are erected. 'To facilitate folding, especially in boxes in which the depth of an end I3V is greater than half the length of a side I2, the ears I3b of the end that is connected to the lid Aas hereinafter described, are outside .the sides o-i thel base flange Ila, while the ears I3b of the other end are inside the sides of the said base flange.

I I, The preferred hinge comprises a pin I5 that is embraced by eyes I5a which are xed to the base flange ||a and by eyes I5b that project from the lower partof the side I2. The positionwof each pin 'I 5 relatively to the base, II, is such that the hinge does not pro-ject into the box and when thesides I2 are folded rst `and the ends I3 are folded over the sides in succession, `the superpo'sed sides and ends lie flatly, or approximately so.` Each end I2a of each side |2is cut obliquely to prevent thesides fouling the ends during Inovement to the collapsed or erected position.

Means to hold each side I2 relatively tothe ends I3 when the parts are in erected position, include a loop I 6 that is pivotally supported near each corner of each side and a co-acting slot I B in the upper end of each iiange I 3a. 1

Any suitable number of flexible strips'II (two shown) are fixed relatively to the inside of Athe lid I4 longitudinally thereof.' Each `said strip is slidably retained in a recess |8at the upper part of one of the ends I3, by a pivoted guide ,member |8. Each guide member I8EL is made of wire vor like suitable strip material and it is cranked nearfeach end so that its medial part willswing pivotally relatively to' itsends each of which is rotatably held by a strap I8b that is fixed to the upper part of the said end at therespective sides of the recess I8. The number of `strips and guides will be in accordance with the dimensions of the box.

Each said strip II may be formed of metal or fabric and preferably it issufliciently flexible to permit movement of theL lidV relatively to the `plane in'which itis moving, during the sliding movement thereof.j Each strip I1 is narrower than the clearance I8 in its guide and this arrangement 'together with any flexibility ofthe stripv |.'I facilitates manipulation and rapid movement of the lid.

. Each strip I1 is extended longitudinally of the lid for a sufficient distance to permit the lid to be moved endwise andfswung to `an upright position.

In the arrangement shown in the .drawings one endof each strip I 'Iis connected to the flange IIIa and its other end is connected to thebody of the lid a I.suitable distance inwardly of the said ange j l Each guide member |82 turns in its bearing I8b sufficiently to allow the lid to be swung to a horizjontal `or -an upright position and its shape is such Vthat it will move sulcientlyto allow `the lid to lie flatly on the top ofthe box sides and ends, without loss of space. The extent to which the medial part of the member I8ab is offset relatively to its ends will be varied according to the thickness of the strip I'I.

A flexible strap IS projects from the end of the lid `Ill `that is not held by the strips .|'I. The free end. of strapx|9 may. be reinforced'and itis arrangedtofpass through a loop 2|] that is xed to the `adjacent ,endof .the box.` 'A metal strip 2| is threaded through a slot `I9a in the end of strap I9 and'this strip is doubled and its limbs are passed through a smaller loop 22 and engaged by a suitable seal as 2|a in such manner that the lid is locked in closed position.

Flange |48- at the opposite ends of the box lid I4 carries any suitable number of projections 23 veach of which is arranged to enter an aperture that is in registry with it. There may, for exjample, be one projection to enter a complementary aperture 23a inthe end in which the guides Each side I2 is hinged at its lower edge so that i it is foldable over the base |I withinthe flange,

I8 are formed and two spaced apart projections 23 to enter'complementary apertures 23@L in the other end but the number and disposition of the projections and apertures may be varied according to the size ofthe box. Other apertures 23b are provided at. suitable positions in the base iiange Ila. Each projection 23 is longer than the clearance between the ange Ila and the ends` I3 when the box is erected or between the flange I4EL and theflange Ia when the box is co1- lapsed, so that it will. normally force the opposed members apart until vit enters a registering aperture. i

We claim:I

- 1. In a box of the type in which the lid may be arrangedto cover the box or be moved horizontally and swung into an upright position outwardly of one end of the box, means to connect said lid to said end of the box, said means comprisng a plurality of-exible strips each extending along said lid for a distance not less than the height of said end-of the box and each being secured with its ends to the inside of the lid so as to lie flatly between the contents of the box and the lid when the latter is closed, and guide means for said strips pivotally mounted at the upper part of said end of the box to swing outwardly and inwardly as the lid is swung to its open and closed position, respectively. 2. In a box of the type inA which the lid may be arrangedto cover the box or be moved horizontallyv and swung into an upright position outwardly vof one end of the box, means to connect said lid to said end of the box, said means comprising a plurality o-f iiexible strips each extending along said lid for a distance not less than the height of said end of the box and. each being secured 4with its ends to theinside of the lid so as to lie flatly between the contents of the box and the lid when the latter is closed, and a guide for each flexible strip, each guide comprising a recess in the upper edge of said end of the box and a member that closes said recess, said member being offset medially and being pivotally movable relativelyto said recess. g 3. In a box of the type in which the lid may be arranged to cover the box or may bemoved horizontally and swung into an upright position outwardly of one end of the box, means to connect said lid to said end of the box, said means comprising a plurality of flexible stripseach extending in spaced apart positions along said lid for a distance not l'ess than the height of said end of the box and each being secured with its ends to the inside of the lid so as to lie flatly between the contents of the box and the lid when the latter is closed, Veach strip passing through a guide clearance provided vin the upper part of said end of the box, and means to retain each strip in its clearance, each said retaining means being cranked and .pivotallymovable relatively to said end. A Y

' WALTER JOSEPH BEASLEL JOHN WALTER SUMMERS. 

